Magic prepared for Mystics backlash

Press Release March 6, 2014

Rocketing out of the blocks in their season-opener, Kia Magic are expecting a Northern Mystics backlash in the round two ANZ Championship netball clash in Auckland on Monday.

 The pair come into the match on the back of contrasting first round fortunes which paid little heed to pre-season predictions.

With nine new personnel and a new coach in their ranks, Magic turned on a polished outing to notch a 24-goal winning margin over Mainland Tactix while Mystics, in a more testing environment, slumped to a disappointing 24-goal loss to the Melbourne Vixens.

``We’re very aware that the outcome of the Mystics last game will probably really fire them up and they’ll be a much better team this week,’’ Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald warned.

``I think their potential is enormous. They have the ability to score so many goals and to score quickly. They’ve virutally got the Silver Ferns attacking line, so I rate them very highly.’’

Surprising many with their first round efforts, Fitzgerald is mindful of keeping her new-look Magic team grounded at this early stage.

``We’re not getting carried away with that result,’’ she said.

``We were very happy on Saturday night, we were still smiling on Sunday but Monday was all about getting ready for the next game.

``Every week we want to take a step up from what was achieved the week before and most definitely this week coming up against the Mystics, we’ll have to step up again.’’

There has always been a keen rivalry between the neighbouring franchises with Magic holding a decisive 11-3 advantage from the previous 14 match-ups, this year perhaps holding a little extra edge after player movement during the off-season.

Mystics secured a major coup in signing midcourt dynamo Laura Langman as well as Nadia Loveday and Jodi-Tod Elliott from Magic while attackers Grace Rasmussen and Malia Paseka were enticed down State Highway One, from Auckland, to a new home with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty side.

``I think players always want to play particularly well against their old teams, so I’m sure that won’t be any different for the players that have gone to the Mystics,’’ Fitzgerald said.

Magic impressed with their consistency and mental approach throughout their outing against Tactix, areas that are likely to face a sterner workout against the Mystics.

``A lot of people got excited about the margin but I was far more excited about the fact that we won four quarters…..I think that’s a real mark of a successful game,’’ Fitzgerald said. ``To have won each of the quarters, I thought was more valuable to us than anything else.

``Our court balance is an area where we can keep improving and just being able to maintain the intensity and hunger we showed against Tactix.

``We have to be able to produce that week-in week-out. I was very, very pleased with it last Saturday but seeing if we can continue to produce that regularly will be a challenge for us.’’

Jane Hunt

Kia Magic media liaison

Ph: 021-107-0287